House of Lords: Video-conferencing Facilities

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	Whether he will consider installing video-conference facilities in the House to enhance communications with other institutions, in particular the European Parliament and its Members.

Lord Brabazon of Tara: Officials are currently examining the feasibility of installing video-conferencing facilities in a Lords' Committee Room.

Prison Suicides

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many:
	(a) men; and
	(b) women committed suicide while in prison in England and Wales in (i) each of the last five years; and (ii) the current year to date.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The table covers the 422 apparently self-inflicted deaths between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2002.
	
		
			  Male Female Total 
			 1998 80 3 83 
			 1999 86 5 91 
			 2000 73 8 81 
			 2001 67 6 73 
			 2002 85 9 94 
			 Total 391 31 422 
		
	
	There have been 38 self-inflicted deaths in 2003 (to 1 May 2003) of which 30 were male and eight were female.

Al Muhajiroun

Baroness Cox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the recent statement made by the spokesman for Al Muhajiroun in which he supported the destruction of the World Trade Centre in New York and the attacks on British soldiers and the police in the United Kingdom in the name of Jihad.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: My Lords, the Government condemn statements of this kind. We have been in close touch with the relevant police and security authorities about the work they have undertaken surveilling, monitoring and evaluating evidence that might be used in any prosecution. As the noble Baroness knows, the detailed operational functions lie with those authorities. Decisions on prosecutions lie with the Crown Prosecution Service. We have always made it clear that those who step over the line will be prosecuted.

Homeless Households: Temporary Accommodation

Baroness Howells of St Davids: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they plan to issue their consultation paper on temporary accommodation for homeless households.

Lord Rooker: I am today issuing a consultation paper on temporary accommodation for homeless households. The consultation paper sets out and invites comments on proposals to: strengthen existing homelessness legislation, such that placing homeless families with children in B&B hotels for longer than six weeks will not be permitted; issue statutory guidance to clarify existing minimum standards for all temporary accommodation used by housing authorities to accommodate homeless families and individuals under the legislation; issue statutory guidance on additional standards that should apply to B&B hotels where this is used by housing authorities to accommodate families with children for less than six weeks, or other households and individuals for any length of time, under the legislation; and issue statutory guidance on the arrangements that should be put in place to ensure that all households placed in temporary accommodation by housing authorities under the legislation receive support to ensure that their health, education and social services needs are met.
	Responses to the consultation are invited by 5 August 2003. A copy of the consultation paper has been placed in the Library of the House.

Cyprus: Accession to EU

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether citizens of member states of the European Union who are (a) visiting or (b) resident in Turkish Northern Cyprus will have unrestricted movement to Greek Southern Cyprus following the accession of the Republic of Cyprus as a member state of the European Union.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: From 1 May 2004, EU citizens will enjoy the right to live and work in the Republic of Cyprus in line with EU law. The exercise of those rights as far as the north of Cyprus is concerned will be subject to the provisions of the relevant protocol to the accession treaty and any subsequent legislation adopted under that protocol.
	The protocol suspends the application of EU law in those parts of the Republic of Cyprus in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus do not exercise effective control.
	Currently a number of the restrictions hitherto applied to crossings of the Green Line have been lifted. It is too soon to say what effect these will have on the situation after accession. It will be for the Republic of Cyprus and the European Commission to agree on the application of EU laws after accession.

Boris Berezovsky

Lord Lamont of Lerwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Amos on 28 April (HL2427), whether President Putin has ever raised any matters concerning Boris Berezovsky with the United Kingdom government.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: President Putin has never raised any matters concerning Mr Berezovsky with my right honourable friend the Prime Minister, but his officials have done so with their UK counterparts.

Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will arrange for all United Kingdom Embassy websites to highlight the coming into force on 30 April 2003 of certain sections, particularly 13, of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate of the Home Office has produced information material and guidance on registration procedures for the NIA Act 2002 which are included on its own website at www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is shortly to provide a link to these guidelines on its website. Posts with their own websites will also be asked to mention the Home Office site.

Seafarers' Welfare: ILO Provisions

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to ratify the International Labour Organisation Seafarers' Welfare Convention 163 (1987) and the International Labour Organisation Seafarers' Welfare Recommendation 173 (1987).

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Government have no plans to ratify ILO Convention No.163 because the Government cannot commit themselves to supplying welfare services for seafarers currently provided by non-government sources. The Government note that only 12 member states of the ILO, which has a membership of over 170 countries, have so far ratified. There is no procedure for ratifying an ILO recommendation. The United Kingdom is currently addressing this important question by active participation in a major ILO project to consolidate in modern form the various instruments on welfare and living conditions of seafarers within a new convention.

London Underground PPP

Baroness Hamwee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In view of the reported decision by W.S. Atkins plc to withdraw from a five-year private finance initiative contract with the London Borough of Southwark after only two years because the margins had failed to reach their expectations, what provisions there are in the public/private partnership contracts for the London Underground to prevent a similar withdrawal in future, given that Atkins has a 20 per cent stake in the infraco Metronet, which is contracted to maintain and upgrade 70 per cent of the Underground network.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: As a condition of financial close of the London Underground PPP each Metronet shareholder, including W.S. Atkins, has committed £35 million of equity and raised bank guarantees to support the commitment. The PPP contracts contain no provision for the consortia to withdraw.
	Each PPP contract prevents a shareholder disposing of more than 25 per cent of its equity interest in a PPP company until 2010. Thereafter, the contracts give London Underground the right to object to any new shareholder that it considers lacking in fitness and propriety to hold an equity stake in a PPP consortium.

Disability Legislation

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect to be able to add to their response to the debate on disabled people on 30 April (HL Deb, col.701–739) in regard to further legislative provision to improve their well-being and status.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: Since the debate on 30 April, my honourable friend in another place, the Minister for Disabled People, has laid before Parliament draft regulations to implement the disability provisions of the EU Employment Directive. Subject to parliamentary approval, these provisions will come into force on 1 October 2004. Among other matters, they will end current employment and occupational exclusions in the Disability Discrimination Act, bringing within scope of the Act over 1 million additional small employers and 7 million jobs in which 600,000 disabled people already work. We will publish a draft Disability Bill later this year which will contain further measures to extend disabled people's civil rights in a number of areas. Announcements will be made in due course.

Leonard Cheshire Foundation: Disability Access Report

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What consideration the Department of Health has given to the Leonard Cheshire External Policy Unit report entitled A Survey of Disability Access Policies in Primary Care Trusts; and what action they will be taking on its recommendations.

Baroness Andrews: The Government welcome this report and the Minister of State for Health, who attended its launch on 26 March wrote to the Leonard Cheshire Foundation on 25 April setting out the actions the Government are already taking to offer better access to people with disabilities, and the further actions now planned. These include the establishment of a joint group with the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) to develop a programme to address disability equality issues; placing a new duty on National Health Service bodies to involve and consult patients and the public (including disabled people and groups) in developing services; as part of a wider equalities and diversity strategy for the NHS workforce commissioning the NHS University to lead development of a disabilities awareness training plan which will consider with the Leonard Cheshire Foundation and the DRC how best to use the "Working with Disability" learning package; and supporting primary care providers in ensuring that their premises comply with the Disability Discrimination Act.

SARS

Baroness Gould of Potternewton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will update the House since the Statement made by the Secretary of State for Health on severe acute respiratory syndrome on 28 April 2003

Baroness Andrews: We would like to provide an update to the Statement on severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) given on 28 April at cols. 512–525.
	World-wide reported cases total 7,296 as at 10 May, with 526 deaths. The situation in Toronto is now such that Canada has been removed from the World Health Organisation and United Kingdom travel advisories. However, WHO has now extended its travel advice to cover Tianjin, Inner Mongolia Province and Taipei. The UK followed suit and amended its advice for UK travellers on 8 May.
	The UK total of "probable" cases now stands at four. This figure includes one case diagnosed retrospectively from March as a result of a review of the clinical findings. At the same time, other cases have been removed following confirmation of alternative diagnoses. The last case in the UK was admitted to hospital on 10 April, and all those diagnosed as probable cases have now recovered.
	The UK has now been removed from the World Health Organisation's list of "affected countries". We were listed as a result of our last case having acquired the illness in London following a face-to-face meeting with a Hong Kong businessman who was passing through, and who was diagnosed with SARS on his return to Hong Kong. There have been no other cases associated with this incident.
	My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Health outlined a five-point plan of further action following advice from the Chief Medical Officer. Progress on implementing these is as follows:
	First, a letter went to all chief executives of National Health Service and primary care trusts on 29 April, reminding them of the action they need to take in their own organisations as a precaution in case of further possible cases presenting to the NHS. This included advice on healthcare workers recruited to the NHS from SARS affected areas. A summary of this letter has gone to all general practitioners.
	Secondly, observers have been to Hong Kong and Singapore to look at their exit health screening procedures in relation to the guidance issued by the World Health Organisation. Plans are in train to send a further observer to Beijing, this time in association with WHO.
	Thirdly, we have secured agreement with UK carriers and Air China on the distribution of information to passengers leaving SARS-affected areas, and are continuing to take this work forward with the other non-UK carriers.
	Fourthly, a letter has been sent, incorporating relevant parts of the aircraft regulations, to remind airlines of the laws which apply to them. This includes in particular their obligations to provide an aircraft declaration of health when a plane arrives in this country should the medical officer require it; and for the commander of an aircraft to report details of an individual suffering from an infectious disease (or with symptoms which may indicate the presence of an infectious disease) before arrival at destination.
	Fifthly, the Department of Health is taking forward the proposal for a meeting of Ministers alongside the World Health Assembly later this month. In the meantime a special European Health Council met last week at which my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Mr Lammy) led the UK delegation. The council agreed draft conclusions. It endorsed the measures taken so far and set out actions to strengthen European preparedness. The council will review the situation at its meeting on 2 June.

Iraq: Antiquities

Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they can undertake under present United Nations sanctions to prevent the sale of Iraqi antiquities through the Internet; what steps they are undertaking to monitor such sales; and whether such sales are being undertaken by dealers based in the United Kingdom or through Internet servers located in the United Kingdom.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: HM Customs & Excise is responsible for the enforcement of UN sanctions, which include the illegal import of Iraqi antiquities. It will follow up any specific information relating to breaches of those sanctions whether the items were obtained in Iraq, via the Internet or obtained from any other source.
	Customs have alerted staff to the risk of looted Iraqi antiquities reaching the UK. They will detain any suspect items and can seize them and prosecute offenders in appropriate cases.
	Customs are in contact with Department of Culture, Media and Sport, UK Police and Interpol to share information on suspected stolen Iraqi antiquities. However, the Government cannot comment publicly on Customs' information sources or areas of research; Exemption 4 (Law enforcement and legal proceedings) of the Open Government Code applies.

Unemployment

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many local government wards have a rate of adult male unemployment above 10 per cent; and what is the breakdown of those wards by region.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter to the Earl Russell from the National Statistician, dated 13 May 2003.
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question about unemployment rates (HL2704).
	The data you request will become available on 30 June 2003, when the data for wards from the 2001 census are published.